Earthquake and coronary heart disease risk factors: a longitudinal study

• Published in: American journal of epidemiology Vol. 135; no. 6; p. 632
• Main Authors: Trevisan, M, Jossa, F, Farinaro, E, Krogh, V, Panico, S, Giumetti, D, Mancini, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 15.03.1992
• Subjects: Adult; Blood Pressure; Body Mass Index; Cholesterol - blood; Coronary Disease - blood; Coronary Disease - epidemiology; Coronary Disease - physiopathology; Disasters; Heart Rate; Humans; Italy - epidemiology; Longitudinal Studies; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases - blood; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - physiopathology; Risk Factors; Triglycerides - blood; Italy
• ISSN: 0002-9262
• DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a116342

The longitudinal association between a number of coronary heart disease risk factors and the experience of a natural disaster (earthquake) was analyzed in a group of workers participating in a longitudinal epidemiologic investigation. The 5-year follow-up examination was interrupted by a major earthquake, and examinations were resumed 2 weeks after the quake. Participants screened after the quake had, on average, higher heart rates, serum cholesterol, and triglycerides than participants examined before the quake; these differences were independent from the coronary heart disease risk factor values measured 5 years previously during the baseline examination. The data collected during the 12-year examination indicated that the observed short-term increase in serum lipids and heart rate was not present long-term (7 years after the quake). These longitudinal data indicate that exposure to a natural disaster can be associated with short-term increases in heart rate, serum cholesterol, and triglycerides but that there is no apparent long-term effect on these coronary heart disease risk factors.